Summary Dissolution

Under California law, some people can use a relatively easy process called Summary Dissolution to end their marriage. This process is only available when the following criteria are met, as described in California Family Code, Section 2400.

Briefly, a Summary Dissolution is possible for couples:

Who have been married less than 5 years;

Who have no children together;

Who don't own very much;

Who don't owe very much; and

Who have no disagreements about how their belongings and their debts are going to be divided up once they are no longer married.

NOTE: Domestic partners who want to use summary dissolution to end their relationship in California should go through the California Secretary of State, not the courts. To learn how to end a California registered domestic partnership through a summary dissolution process, click here.

If you think that this is your situation, the first thing you are to do is complete the following three worksheets: